The Home Front

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (above) By Don DeBat Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed “Protecting Renters Ordinance” (PRO) actually will push apartment rents higher, critics say. An estimated 54% of Chicago’s residents—some 600,000 families-are apartment renters, according to the City of Chicago. So, critics say Mayor Johnson, who is up for reelection next spring against at least a dozen opponents, is pushing his “PRO” Ordinance because he needs votes. Chicago currently has tw

East Lakeview apartments (above) By Don DeBat How many senior citizens in Chicago are seeing a hefty growth in their net income and wealth after age 65? With most elderly people living on Social Security and a fixed income, the number of seniors pocketing rising income probably is not in the tens of thousands. So, now is the time for the Illinois Legislature and Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi to change the law and automatically give all senior homeowners in Chicago and Cook

President Donald Trump (above) By Don DeBat Will Chicago home buyers and families seeking to refinance ever see mortgage rates in the 5%-range again? Only a gypsy fortune teller’s crystal ball will tell. However, the honeymoon apparently is over between new Federal Reserve Board (FED) chairman Kevin Warsh and President Donald Trump. On Sept. 4th President Trump urged the central bank and chairman Warsh, to “get smart” and cut rates. So, with President Trump as the biggest cri

The former Xsport Fitness at Piper's Alley (above) By Don DeBat Thousands of Old Town neighborhood residents are gleefully doing cartwheels over the planned opening of a classy Whole Foods Market store on the 1600 North block of North Wells St. after an eight-year grocery desert. However, many real estate insiders are skeptical about the mystery behind the sudden announcement. Is it all part of the sophisticated chess game developer Fern Hill is playing at the intersection of